Wound care diagnostic and therapeutic steps may include:

• Assessment, including past medical history and medications
• Risk screenings
• Infection control
• Debridement (removing dead tissue to promote healing)
• Application of appropriate dressings
• Bioengineered skin and collagen products
• Referrals (as needed) to other medical specialties, such as
• Infectious Disease
• Vascular Surgery (vein/artery health)
• Podiatry (foot care)
• Patient, family and/or caretaker education

What is an ostomy?

An ostomy is a surgically-created opening in the body that allows your body to eliminate waste. Ostomy surgery leads to the creation of a stoma, which is the actual end of the small or large bowel that protrudes through the opening in the abdomen.

Whether temporary or permanent, ostomy surgery (e.g. colostomy, ileostomy, urostomy, ileal conduit) results in an alteration of bodily function. Our staff are experts in the assessment and evaluation of ostomies.

What types of care are available for patients with ostomies?

Our ostomy care services include:

• Teaching and counseling before and after surgery
• Stoma site selection, to make sure that the stoma is created at the most manageable place on the body
• Post-operative skin and stoma assessment and management
• Selection and teaching of appropriate appliance/pouch techniques
• Patient and family education and support

Our Online Learning Center also has helpful information about adjusting to life with an ostomy.

For most people, wound healing is a natural process. But for some, it becomes a complex medical problem requiring specialized treatment and care. There are two sets of factors that can impede the healing process. These include local factors and systemic factors.

Examples of local factors include:

• prolonged pressure on the wound
• a dry environment at the wound site
• infection
• localized tissue death (necrosis)

Systemic factors are those that may be affecting the patient’s entire body, including:

• age
• body type
• the presence of ongoing or chronic disease
• poor nutrition
• poor circulation or vascular disease
• effects of medication

If you have a non-healing wound, we offer some of the most state-of-the-art treatments to help you begin the healing process. 

No referral is necessary, unless your insurance plan mandates one.

You can call us directly at 860-358-2880 to set up an appointment, or you can be referred by a physician or caregiver.  

At your first visit:

1. We will ask about your current health, your medical history, and what medications you are taking.
2. You will see a physician or another specialist from our wound and ostomy care team.
3. Our clinicians will develop a proactive and comprehensive care plan for your treatment and review it with you and your physician. This plan will include:
• a schedule for changing dressings
• how often you will need to come to the Wound & Ostomy Center

Please bring a list of medications that you are currently taking to the first visit.

Treatment is usually covered by most insurance companies, including Medicare and Medicaid. You can check with your insurance provider to be sure, or our staff can contact them when you visit for the first time. We will also contact your insurer for authorization.